According to multiple reports, the former UFC bantamweight filed a
charge against the Las Vegas-based promotion with the National
Labor Relations board on Wednesday. Smith believes the UFC bought
out her contract in retaliation for her role with Project
Spearhead, which is an attempt to unionize fighters under the
organization’s banner. Smith, a seven-time Octagon veteran, was
scheduled to face Aspen Ladd
at UFC Fight Night 128 in Atlantic City, N.J., on April 21. The
contest was canceled when Ladd missed weight for the 135-pound
contest by 1.8 pounds. As a result, the UFC paid Smith $62,000 for
the final fight on her contract and informed her that they would
not be giving her a new deal.

Lucas Middlebrook, who is the legal consultant for Project
Spearhead, drafted the 12-page complaint, which was obtained by
MMAjunkie.com and can be viewed in its entirety
here.

“Dare to form, join or assist a union and you too will accompany
Ms. Smith not fighting in the UFC,” Middlebrook wrote in the
complaint. “This message contravenes the very purpose of the
(National Labor Relations Act) and ZUFFA cannot be allowed to
continue flouting the Act. No person or entity is above the
law.”

Smith had won three of her last four appearances, including a
second-round stoppage of Amanda
Lemos in her most recent outing at UFC Fight Night 113. One
bout prior, she garnered “Fight of the Night” honors for a decision
victory over Irene
Aldana at UFC on Fox 22. Meanwhile, her lone defeat came when
she agreed to face Cristiane
Justino – a fighter who often struggles to find opponents -- in
a catchweight bout at UFC 198. In short, Smith was in a position
that would often lead to a new UFC contract under different
circumstances.

“There simply can be no dispute ZUFFA took adverse action against
Ms. Smith, and based on the facts set forth herein and those to be
uncovered in the investigation into this issue, ZUFFA’s animus
toward Ms. Smith’s protected activity was the substantial or
motivating reason for the adverse action(s) taken against her,”
Middlebrook wrote.

Meanwhile, ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto has
reported that the UFC’s version of the situation “differs
greatly” than Smith’s interpretation. The promotion has yet to
officially comment on the matter, but that could change soon once
its legal team delivers a response to the complaint.